May/June 2002
volume 11, issue 3
In this issue:
Loansome Doc for the Consumer: Year One
The Quick Guide to Electronic Delivery: From Paper to PDF
How to Create a Customized Union List Using SERHOLD Report Data
National Library Week Promotional Items Success: Job Well Done!
The Electronic Funds Transfer System
Healthy People 2010
Welcome, Alan!
PSRML's Regional Advisory Committee
NLM's Internet Access to Digital Libraries (IADL) Grant to Replace the Internet Connection and Information Access grants
2002 MLA Meeting Reminder and NLM Invitation
Highlights from the March - April 2002 NLM Technical Bulletin
In every issue:
Table of Contents for the NLM Technical Bulletin
Upcoming Events - 2002
Publication Information
The Electronic Funds Transfer System
EFTS, the Electronic Funds Transfer System, is a transaction based electronic billing system for interlibrary loan and document delivery charges. EFTS has been developed and maintained by the Lyman Maynard Stowe Library at the University of Connecticut Health Center and was first used in 1996 by DOCLINE libraries in New England. In 1998, additional libraries from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware joined in. Recent additions include libraries from Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. As of April 26, there are 642 libraries participating in EFTS, which is identified in DOCLINE as a Library Group. More information about EFTS is located on the EFTS web site at http://efts.uchc.edu/efts.
EFTS is intended to eliminate the need to create invoices and cut checks for reimbursement for loans between participants. In order to participate, a library deposits funds to EFTS to cover the cost of its transactions for 90 days. Each month, lenders submit data on their loans — those for which they charge — electronically to EFTS. Borrowers' accounts are debited. Lenders' accounts are credited; lenders are charged a 3% billing fee as well. Each quarter, net lenders receive reimbursement checks.
NLM has received a proposal from the University of Connecticut to expand the system nationwide. It will be voluntary for any library in the NN/LM that wishes to participate. NLM will provide funding to support nationwide development of EFTS; if successful, the system should be self-supporting in three years.
PSRML will work with Resource Libraries and MLA chapters in the Pacific Southwest Region to explore how EFTS might be implemented for our region. EFTS was previously examined in our region in 1999. At that time, Resource Library Directors decided not to implement EFTS due to several factors (see Latitudes report, http://nnlm.gov/psr/lat/v8n6/efts.html). Now that NLM is interested in expanding the system nationwide, we are eager to consider EFTS again.
EFTS is a service we will be hearing more about in the future. PSRML is compiling "questions and answers" about EFTS for distribution to regional NN/LM members. Please send any questions you have about EFTS to Julie Kwan at jkkwan@library.ucla.edu or 310-825-5342 or toll-free in our region at 800-337-7657.
